Red Sox fan forgives Johnny Damon now that he's not a Yankee

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Charlotte Tamber, 72, of High Point., N.C. stood with a pack of Detroit Tigers fans here this afternoon, waiting for a glimpse of Johnny Damon trotting toward the practice fields in his new uniform.

“I’m a Red Sox fan and when he went to the Yankees I was very disappointed,” Tamber said. “Now that he’s down here, I can forgive him.”

Sonny Stewart, 16, drove 200 miles from his home in Fort Lauderdale just to see Damon and attempt to get him to autograph three baseballs.

“I’m still a Yankees fan,” said Stewart, sporting a 2009 World Series championship hat celebrating the franchise’s 27th title. “But I like Damon and I will follow him wherever he goes. I’ll buy his jersey or a Tigers hat.

“You know, he gave me his batting gloves at a Yankees practice two years ago.”

Ken Bell, 73, of West Branch was thrilled watching Damon autograph his bat that has all the Tigers on it.

“He’s always been a fan-friendly guy,” Bell said. “I was a little worried that when he went to New York he’d change, like some guys. But he stayed nice.”